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In Praise of Cynicism Opponents Therefore Began to Refer to Them As "Dogs" (Kunikos), from Which the Word "Cynic" Is Derived

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In Praise of Cynicism Opponents Therefore Began to Refer to Them As living their lives according to time schedules and rules of etiquette. Their In Praise of Cynicism opponents therefore began to refer to them as "dogs" (kunikos), from which the word "Cynic" is derived. These "dog philosophers" cultivated a deliberately Tim Madigan provocative and earthy lifestyle. Legend has it that Diogenes was once spotted "Cynic"—A blackguard whose faulty immortal soul, which once resided in a masturbating in the marketplace. When vision sees things as they are, not as world of pure ideas and longs to return someone protested, he blithely said they ought to be. there. "Wouldn't it be nice if one could alleviate But not all of Socrates' associates hunger by rubbing one's stomach?" —Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary agreed with Plato. Antisthenes, who had The Cynics felt that happiness is also been trained in the "Socratic achievable during one's lifetime. Idealists like Plato scorned this notion, and hen I was in my early teens, I was method," felt that Plato's idealism looked for true happiness in the next an avid reader of MA D magazine. actually betrayed the more down-to- W world. The Cynics also felt that humans I was amused by its brand of juvenile earth teachings of their beloved master. should be comfortable with their own satire and parody. It lived up to its While Plato looked for true happiness bodies, and not ashamed of their animal promise of providing "humor in a jugular in the world to come, Antisthenes sought happiness in the here and now. He is nature. In the words of Friedrich vein." My family did not share my high considered to be the founder of Nietzsche, "For the happiness of the regard for the publication, and accused Cynicism. animal, that thorough cynic, is the living me of being a cynic (with emphasis on The most notorious Cynic was Dio- proof of the truth of cynicism." The the cyn) for enjoying it. I didn't know genes of Sinope, about whom many bodily functions are natural, and should what the word meant, but it was clear legends have accrued. It is said that when not be taboo. The contemporary philos- from their tone of voice that it was not the noted philosophers of Plato's opher Peter Sloterdijk, in his book The something to be proud of. Academy stated that the best definition Critique of Cynical Reason, goes so far Webster's New World Dictionary of a human being is "a featherless biped," as to call the Cynics the precursors of defines "cynical" as "I. believing that Diogenes rushed into their midst waving the modern-day ecology movement. By people are motivated in all their actions about a plucked chicken. "Here is Plato's living close to nature, and by spurning only by selfishness; denying the sincerity man," he declared. Diogenes was also the trappings of a consumer society, the of people's motives and actions, or the famous for walking through the streets Cynics did their best to maintain value of living 2. sarcastic, sneering, etc." of Athens in broad daylight waving a ecological balance. "Cynical philos- Not exactly words of recommendation. lantern and announcing that he was ophers," says Sloterdijk, "are those who But I'd like to give a defense of cynicism, looking for a "real human being." The do not get nauseated."' and show that it's not all bad. In fact, point of this silliness was to show that The Cynics were suspicious of po- Cynicism began as a school of philos- reality does not exist theoretically, but litical power. Another legend about ophy, dating back to the time of in day-to-day experiences. Diogenes is that he was visited by Socrates, and it shares many traits with The basic message of the Cynics was Alexander the Great, the conqueror of modern-day humanism. that one should live according to nature. the known world, who wanted to see the Socrates was famous for walking Civilization is artificial, and the more one much-talked-about philosopher. "Ask through the marketplace of Athens, gets caught up in its clutches, the less me for anything, and I will grant it to asking questions and showing how the one is true to oneself. The Cynics held you," Alexander is said have told him. learned men of his time were not nearly that one should follow the model of the Diogenes at the time was sunning as knowledgeable as they claimed to be. animals, who eat when they are hungry himself. "Get out of my light," he replied.. He demonstrated that it is better to and sleep when they are tired, rather than The early school (if it can be called profess one's ignorance than to act as HAGAR THE HORRIBLE if one knows something when in fact one does not. His most noted student, Plato, set up an academy outside of Athens, and began to teach about eternal truths. The body, according to Plato, is merely a decaying receptacle imprisoning the Tim Madigan is executive editor of FREE INQUIRY. Reprinted with specie permission of King Features Syndicate, Inc. Fall 1991 43 that, since it was comprised of genuine individualists) of Cynicism, then, advo- FREE INQUIRY Conference Audio and Video Tapes cated a simple lifestyle, an enjoyment of worldly pleasures, and a disdain for "Humanism and Liberty" political power. It was not ascetic-one Marriott Copley Place, Boston, 1990 should renounce the baubles of society, ❑ Session 1: Religion & Liberty ❑ Session 4: Humanism & Feminism/African- but not life itself. It attacked conven- R. Lindsay, Robert Alley, Ishmael Jaffree, Edd Americans for Humanism tions, abstract power, and bureaucracy. Doerr J. Millholland, Barbara Eisenstadt, Molleen $8.95 Matsumura, N. Allen, Ishmael Jaffree $6.95 Indeed, it was anti-nationalistic. Dio- ❑ Session 5: Roots of Religious Liberty genes declared himself to be a citizen of ❑ Luncheon Alan Dershowitz $6.95 G. Larue, Ralph Ketchum, Glenn Tinder the world. And, unlike the Webster's $8.95 ❑ Session 2: Humanism & Atheism ❑ Session 6A: Raising Children Humanistically definition given above, it did not deny T. Franczyk, Gordon Stein, Michael Martin M. Matsumura, Lisa Kuhmerker, Anthony the value of living. $6.95 Piccioni $6.95 Why then is cynicism considered to ❑ Session 3: Humanist Laureates ❑ Session 6B: Lover & Liberty/Sexual Freedom be solely negative? As Sloterdijk's book P. Kurtz, E. O. Wilson, Stephen Jay Gould T. Flynn, Robert Rimmer, Marvin Kohl makes clear, Cynicism took a dark turn. $8.95 $6.95 By the time Christianity had come to ❑ Banquet ❑ Session 7: Humanism, Libertarianism, dominate the Western world, Cynicism P. Kurtz, Gordon Stein, Ishmael Jaffree, Altruism Stephen Jay Gould, Dan Barker J. Barnhart, Jan Narveson, Joan Kennedy had lost its puckish flavor, while $8.95 Taylor, Alfie Kohn $10.95 retaining its critical view of idealism. It ❑ Complete set: 17 C-90 Tapes $70.00 • (save more than 10%) started to accommodate itself to power- Other FREE INQUIRY conference tapes available: ful institutions, while remaining con- ❑ "Living Without Religion: The Good Life vs. the Afterlife," Cathedral Hill temptuous of them. Sloterdijk refers to Hotel, San Francisco, 1989. Audiotapes only, $65. this as "enlightened false knowledge"- D Tenth Humanist World Congress: "Building a World Community," State the feeling that life is basically worthless University of New York at Buffalo, 1988. Audiotapes, $150; Videotapes, $89. and the best one can do is ridicule those ❑ "Secular Humanism and Roman Catholicism: Confronting the Contemporary World," American University, Washington, D.C. 1987. Audiotapes, $49. who believe otherwise. In his chapter "In ❑ "Ethics in Conflict: Biblical vs. Secular Morality," University of Richmond, Search of Lost Cheekiness," Sloterdijk Virginia, 1986. Audiotapes, $39; Videotapes, $89. calls for a return to ancient Cynicism ❑ "Jesus in History and Myth," University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 1985. and its positive assertion that a life Audiotapes, $39. without ideals or metaphysical certain- ❑ "Armageddon and Biblical Apocalyptic: Are We Living in the Last Days?" University of Southern California at Los Angeles, 1984. Audiotapes, $19. ties can be a lot of fun. There is such ❑ "Religion and American Politics," National Press Club, Washington, D.C., 1983. a thing as positive disillusionment, as Audiotapes, $26.50. Plato and his friends were so rudely reminded. (They were not daunted by New! Audiotapes from the Society for Humanist Philosophy's first meeting, Diogenes' plucked chicken, by the way. Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada, 1991 ❑ "Nietzsche, Heidegger, Levinas and Derrida: Postmodern Challengers to Humanism," David They merely added to their definition of Goicoechea; "Postmodernism, Cynicism, and Humanism," Tim Madigan "man" that he is a featherless biped with ❑ "Humanism and Anti-Foundationalism," Thomas Clark; "Foucault and Humanism: A Panel flattened nails. Idealists are not noted Discussion," Rob MacIsaac and Rob Tielman for their sense of humor.) ❑ "Facing the Challenges to Humanism," Paul Kurtz; "Marxism, Socialism and Humanism," James Contemporary humanism would do Lawler; "Was Nietzsche a Humanist?" H. James Birx ❑ "Heidegger and Taoism on Humanism," Xianglong Zhang; "Heidegger and Kurtz on Humanism," well to familiarize itself with the Cynics. James Kidd Today's world is still in the grips of ❑ "American Pragmatism and the Humanist Tradition," Konstantin Kolenda; "Postmodern Challenge Platonic idealism. A healthy dose of old- for Educational Humanism: Dewey or Dewey Not?" John Novak and Thomas Busnarda fashioned Cynicism wouldn't do it any Each tape is $6.95. Order three for $18 or a complete set for $35. harm. And for those who find this life U.S. and Canadian postage and handling $1.50 per set, $6.00 maximum. Foreign air mail $3.00 per set, $30.00 maximum. Please pay in U.S. funds drawn on U.S.
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